The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage and to undergo medical surgery abroad.
Delivering judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025, Justice Emeka Nwite also ordered the temporary release of Adamu’s international passport to enable the trip scheduled between May 9 and May 28, 2026.
Adamu is currently facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Limited over an alleged N4.6 billion money laundering case.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that ill-health could qualify as a special circumstance warranting the release of a defendant’s travel documents.
“There is no doubt that ill-health can be a special circumstance for the grant of application of this nature,” the judge stated.
The court further emphasized that every individual, regardless of criminal allegations, has the constitutional and humanitarian right to quality healthcare.
“I must make it quite clear that everyone is entitled to be offered access to good medical care, whether he is being tried for a crime or have been tried or simply in detention,” Justice Nwite ruled.
He added that authorities responsible for a defendant’s custody or restrictions must also ensure such individuals can access proper medical treatment.
Citing appellate court decisions, the judge stressed the importance of preserving life during criminal proceedings.
“It is only the living that can praise God. So, it is only the living that can be tried, convicted, and punished for an offence,” he said.
Following the court’s findings, all reliefs sought by the defendant were granted.
“Consequently, I make the following order: I hereby make an order granting leave to the first defendant/applicant to travel on an official duty to coordinate the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and to utilise the opportunity to undergo a pending surgery,” the judge ruled.
The court also directed the temporary release of Adamu’s international passport, which had earlier been deposited with the court as part of his bail conditions.
“I hereby make an order permitting the temporary release of the international passport of the first defendant/applicant presently deposited with the registrar of this honourable court to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia from 9th May 2026 to 28th May 2026,” Justice Nwite added.
The judge further ordered that the passport must be returned immediately upon Adamu’s return to Nigeria.
The ruling came months after the court previously rejected a similar application filed by the commissioner for Hajj and medical treatment abroad.
At the earlier hearing, the EFCC opposed the request, arguing that one of the supporting affidavits attached to the application was unsigned and therefore incompetent. The commission also maintained that Adamu failed to provide enough evidence proving the surgery could not be carried out in Nigeria.
However, in the renewed application, the defendant submitted additional documents, including a certified medical report and an appointment slip from Saint Xavier General Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Court records showed that the hospital scheduled Adamu’s appointment with Dr. Hossam Motez for May 11, 2026.
Justice Nwite noted that the new documents sufficiently addressed the concerns raised during the earlier application.
The judge also clarified that one of the disputed medical documents was only “a computer-generated cost estimate invoice and treatment plan” and not an unsigned medical report as alleged by the prosecution.
He further held that the appointment slip from the Saudi hospital strengthened the defendant’s medical claims.
Adamu and his company are being tried over allegations that funds linked to a motorcycle supply contract awarded by the Bauchi State Government were diverted through third-party accounts.
According to the EFCC, the motorcycles connected to the contract were never supplied. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court had earlier granted Adamu bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties who must own landed properties in Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa areas of Abuja.
As part of the bail conditions, he was directed to deposit his international passport with the court.
Elijah Adeyemi
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